Armed men storm ‘deposed’ Ado-Ekiti chief’s house

ADO EKITI—Some armed men yesterday stormed the palace of the allegedly deposed Edemo of Ado Ekiti, Chief Bamidele Aduloju in Odo-Ado area of the state capital.

Although the circumstance of the invasion was unclear at press time, it will be recalled that the Ewi last Wednesday installed a 27-year-old Dayo Fajemilua as the new Edemo of Ado Ekiti

Yesterday’s development led to the high chief taking refuge in police station.

Vanguard gathered that armed youths, in the early hours stormed Edemo’s palace, shooting indiscriminately into the air and attacking anyone sighted.

The embattled chief was not at home when the incident occurred, as he had gone to follow up his earlier complaints about the incident to the police and state government.

But, one of his sons, Sunday told Vanguard that he was with his father when the attack occurred and he and his father had to take refuge at Okesa police station.

“We were going for a meeting when we saw at least 40 armed men marching towards our place and by the time we were going back home, we heard sporadic gunshots coming from our compound. I had to take my father to Okesa Police Station where we slept,” he said.

According to Sunday, the incident might not be unconnected with the refusal of his father to trade the family land in Ago Aduloju, a suburb of the town

Aduloju was still at the police headquarters as at the press time, while the state government was said to have waded into the matter.

Meanwhile, the police has vowed to deal with anybody trying to cause crisis in the state.

According to the police image maker in the state, Mr Victor Babayemi said police would not take side with any group in a matter he described as “purely chieftaincy matter which is not being properly managed.